Illustration by Kevin James Hurtack © 2006
Mother of Heresy
by Kevin James Hurtack © 2007
(Special Thanks To Deanna Davoli)
The car sputtered, and then died completely. While Molly cursed it, every idiot light it possessed appeared on the dashboard. Grudgingly, she coaxed it onto the narrow shoulder, and flipped on the four-way flashers.
Molly pulled out her cell phone, and dialed the toll-free number for Triple A. Piece of shit, that's what I get for thinking I can drive it all the way from Denver to Nocturnus City. A moment later she received an annoying bleep from her phone, and saw that the screen displayed the message, No Service Available.
Glancing over her shoulder at her infant daughter Molly said, “Don't worry, Isabella, we'll get someone to help us out.”
Tossing the cell phone to the floor she grabbed her map from the passenger's seat. Yeah, great idea Molly. Take the back roads up to Nocturnus City where you'll be outta range of the cell towers. Don't take the I-70 like any normal person would. It would not be so bad if that prick Rick had agreed to watch his own daughter today. Friggin' asshole can't take time away from his dojo even for a day. Too many bimbos to teach karate to I guess.
After a few moments of studying the map she spotted a small town called Raven. I'm pretty sure I saw road signs for that place earlier. It should only be a few miles up the road. I could hike it, and either find a payphone or maybe they have a bus station. It's gonna be tough on Isabella, but I'll bring her stuff. Just take plenty of breaks. Fucking Rick should've fixed this car like I asked him to do before the divorce. Once I get the job in Nocturnus City, me and Isa won't need his ass. I'll be able to give her a good life.
Glancing out her window, the looming Colorado Rockies appeared to be more of a challenge now rather then a picturesque backdrop.
I can't afford to miss this interview, not with being laid off from the factory for two months, and Rick being a deadbeat. It's gonna be tough on Isabella, but we'll manage. Just take plenty of breaks.
“Alright, sweetpea,” Molly said while taking her daughter out of the car seat, “I thought we'd hike our first 14ker when you reached your teens, but you're getting an early start.”
Molly did her best to hike up the old mountain road at a brisk pace. As it grew darker and colder she wished desperately that someone would come along in a vehicle. Although she didn't like the idea of hitchhiking, especially with Isabella, she'd risk it if it meant getting to her destination quicker. But luck didn't favor her with any Samaritans. God, I hate the country. There's no one out here. Doesn't anyone else use these old roads?
After an hour of hiking, fatigue started to catch up to Molly. The altitude played havoc on her cardiovascular system, and she found herself taking more and more breaks to catch her breath. The temperature had also dropped several degrees and she shivered, despite her layers of clothing. Molly did her best to keep her daughter warm, and comfortable. As her own mouth grew dry and her thirst became unbearable she wondered if making the hike had been the right choice. Damn, how could I be so stupid? Am I getting hypothermia? Dehydration? I can't fuck up, Isabella needs me. At least I dressed her warm. I gotta make it through this for Isabella.
When Molly saw the glow of the pick-up truck's tail lights she thought she'd begun to hallucinate. But after rubbing her eyes a few times, and seeing the silhouettes of men walking beside the truck she felt a sudden surge of hope fill her.
Calling upon her remaining strength, she began to sprint toward the truck. She could tell that it moved slowly, and saw that the men were continuously moving from the shoulder to the back of the truck. What are they doing? Are they some kind of road crew? What're they doing out this late?
Molly shook the doubts from her head, and began to wave wildly to draw their attention. She tried to cry out for help, but her throat proved to be too dry. Still, the men paused in their work for a moment and peered at her as she drew within a few yards from them. Oh thank, God. Please tell me one of these dudes knows something about piece of shit cars.
Smiling warmly at them she said in a raspy tone, “Hello, I'm so glad that I found you guys. My car broke down a few miles back, and I was wondering if you could give me a lift to Raven?”
By the illumination of the truck's taillights Molly could see that the duo wore heavy coats made from mangy animal hides. The coats concealed their faces, and hands. She tried not to recoil in disgust at their appearance. Play nicely with the mountain folk, city girl. Use that charm on them even if they smell like ass, cause they're the only ones out here with a working vehicle and you don't wanta freeze to death. Do it for Isabella, she'll have a shot at a better life if you can make it to that job interview in Nocturnus City.
One of the men made a gesture to the truck, which screeched to a halt. Neither man said anything to her, but merely stood before her. Damn, maybe these guys don't speak English. Shit, I wish I had paid attention in Spanish class.
“ Uh, hola mis amigos,” she said, “Me no tengo auto. Ayura?”
The men grunted in response, and Molly smiled again, “Gracias, mis amigos. Gracias.”
A moment later the doors of the truck opened, and two more men in mangy coats joined them on the shoulder. The new pair moved behind Molly, studying her silently. Damnit, are these guys gonna try to rape me? They gotta another thing coming if they try it. My ex might be a deadbeat when it comes to his daughter, but he did teach me a thing or two about self defense.
When one of the men approached her from behind, Molly threw an elbow which caught him in gut. Before he had time to react, she followed up with a hammer fist punch to his head. Her assailant staggered on his feet, and his companion seemed surprised at the sudden turn of events.As she prepared to finish him off with a sidekick, one of the other men grabbed Isabella from her grasp. Before she could react, his partner grabbed her arms from behind.
“Get your fucking hands off my daughter!” she yelled while struggling to break free.
Despite her efforts the two men behind her quickly bound her arms at the wrist and elbows. As they struggled to restrain her, a third man approached her with a dingy rucksack in his hands, but Molly kneed him in the groin when he got too close. The man howled in primal agony and nearly collapsed to his knees. Wasting little time she kneed him in the face. The man reeled back from her and threw back his head while howling pain. As he did so the wind caught his hood and pulled it off. The revelation of his face, caused Molly to recoil in horror.
His skeletal face had a complexion similar to old leather. Being completely hairless, he reminded Molly of a burn victim. The man's yellow-green eyes seemed to glow like a cat's. He had a stub for a nose, and no lips. His yellow jagged teeth glistened in the dim light.
Molly screamed hysterically at the sight. The shock of seeing the man's face, and the fight swept over her. She could feel herself on the verge of passing out. No, I can't faint. I gotta save Isabella. Oh God please, she needs me. Please!
Before she could counter it, one of the creatures slipped the rucksack over her head. The fetid stench of the sack made her gag in disgust, and she could feel the sharp tang of bile fill her mouth. Panic filled her when she heard her daughter wailing. A moment later she passed out and fell limply to the asphalt.
***
Darkness greeted Molly when she opened her eyes. An overwhelming stench of rotting meat and death quickly reached her nose. She gagged in disgust, and tried not to vomit. Isabella! Where's my daughter? What have they done with her?
When she tried to sit up, she found that she could not. She quickly realized that she'd been hogtied. As she struggled against her bonds, she could feel the ground below her making squishing sounds. What the fuck? Where the Hell am I? What the fuck is going on! This can't be real, this has to be a fucking nightmare!
The sensation of slimy things crawling over her body caused her to scream. Desperately she rolled about trying to shake off the unseen creatures. After a few minutes she became exhausted from her struggles, and tried to calm herself down. Molly! You gotta relax, girl. You're a smart woman, and you're tough. You can get yourself outta here, just use your head. Don't be an emotional wreck, cause that's what they want. You have to be smart, and strong for Isabella. You're her mother, you can't let these assholes hurt her, no matter what it takes.
Taking a few deep breaths, and using some relaxation techniques she'd learned from her ex-husband, Molly started to regain her composure. As she laid there, she could hear what sounded like a diesel engine. She also sensed a vibration to the ground, and could feel an occasional jolt. I'm in the back of the truck. They're taking me somewhere, but where? We shouldn't be too far from Raven, so when I get free I shouldn't have to go too far for help. These guys gotta pay for doing this to me and Isa. Whoever the fuck they are. Why were they wearing Halloween masks? They had to be masks, right? Right.
The truck began to lurch and bounce violently, and Molly assumed they were traveling down some old dirt road. A few moments later, the truck stopped and she could hear the men exiting the cab. The sound of Isabella crying hysterically broke her heart. What are they doing to my daughter?
Strong hands pulled her out of the truck, and dropped her on the ground. It felt mushy and wet to her. What the fuck am I laying in? Please God, let it be mud. Just the mud.
“ No! Why are you doing this to me?! Please, just give me back my daughter! Let us go! Oh God please!” she said while gasping for air.
“No, not this one. Take her out of there. We don't have much time left. They are the ones our father spoke of,” said a soft female voice.
“Who are you?! Give me back my daughter, bitch! I just wanted help with my car! ” Molly said while struggling violently.
The stranger chuckled, “Oh it is you who will be helping us, Molly Shepard.”
The woman's response startled her. How does she know my name? What the fuck is she talking about? I'm not gonna help these assholes!
Molly jolted when she felt the strong hands on her body. She tried to struggle against them, but there were too many, and they easily pulled her off the ground, and began to carry her away from the stench. As they did so her hood finally fell off. It took her eyes a few moments to adjust to the dim light, but when they did she wished she couldn't see at all.
A few feet from her laid a large pit filled with the rotted meat. Amongst the mess she could make out deer antlers, coyote heads, and even an elk carcass. As she stared at the pit Molly could see maggots and other worms writhing amongst the gore. She screamed in sheer horror as she realized that she'd been amongst those fetid remains. A trio of hooded men sat at the edge of the pit, gorging themselves on the rotted carcasses.
As they carried her along, Molly could see a toppled rail fence nearby, and beyond it laid an archaic cemetery. In the middle of it she could see the crumbled remains of a crypt, which had a circle of torches around it. By the torch light she could see strange runes had been scrawled on the crypt. Beyond the cemetery Molly saw an old farmhouse with windows that glowed with warm yellow light. The one thing she didn't see was the woman who had spoke.
“Who are you? What do you want from me?” she said to the men while they carried her down a gravel path toward the house.
No one answered her, and she tried her best to break free from her captors to no avail. If I can get these ropes off, these assholes are in for a world of hurt.
When they reached the house, Molly could see old white paint peeling off the dry-rotted wood siding, and other signs of disrepair. The men opened a heavy wooden door, and carried her into the living room. The interior of the house stank of dust and decay. Kerosene lanterns illuminated the room, revealing water stained walls that were covered with old crosses and crufixes. Threadbare carpeting covered the rotting floor. Mismatched furniture laid strewn about with no real thought put into its placement. The men dropped her onto a lumpy crimson love seat. She landed on it face first and gagged at the musty stench coming from the cushions. Hastily one of the men adjusted her bonds so she was able to properly sit, but her wrists and ankles remained bound. Molly struggled into a sitting position and groaned at the aching in her back.
Glancing over her shoulder, she shuddered when she saw three of the men standing behind her without their hoods. Each one appeared identical to the one she'd seen earlier. Are they triplets of some kind? Or are they just too damn ugly to tell apart?
“Good work children, you didn't hurt her. Much better then last time.” said the woman's voice from somewhere in the house.
Molly peered around, trying to find the speaker. After a minute she saw a grotesquely obese elderly woman in a blood-splattered frock enter the room. The rotting floor vibrated with every step the old woman took, and she seemed highly unstable on her feet. The woman nearly filled the filthy couch across from Molly, and the old springs groaned in protest.
My God, how much does she weigh? I'm surprised she can even walk. And why'd she call those freaks, children? Are they her kids? Freaky looks must run in the family.
“You must have many questions, Molly Shepard,” the old woman said while staring at her with milky eyes.
“Yeah, like who the fuck are you, and where the hell is my daughter. I want her back, now!” she replied “And like how the fuck do you know my name, bitch?”
“My name is Estella, just a humble daughter of our father. His sons brought you here, because it is not often that we get travelers through here and the selection has been delayed for far too long, but you're going to help us with that, Molly. Your gorgeous daughter, too. Our father told me so in a beautiful dream it would be so.”
“Your father? What are you talking about, you're not making any sense.”
Estella chuckled in response at first, but after a moment her laughter turned into a hacking cough. She placed a kerchief to her mouth, and blood soon seeped through it. The men behind Molly whimpered like dogs, but the woman's coughing ceased and she gave them a dismissive wave of her hand.
Jesus, don't tell me they're all sick. Is that why her so-called children look all fucked up? Shit, I hope it isn't contagious, please don't let Isabella catch anything from these freaks.
“Don't worry children, it won't be much longer. Molly and her daughter will be taking my place. No longer will we have to search,” Estella said while wiping some blood from the corner of her mouth.
“Take your place? What the fuck are you talking about? You people are sick or inbred or something, I'm not staying here with you. So help me God, if you do anything to my daughter I'll fucking kill you.”
“Oh child,” Estella said, “God is the reason we are all here now. Why this all happened. Our father's decree is glorious. It is not up to you if you stay or not. It's not up to any of us, but our father. You see when I was your age he chose me to carry his seed, and all these years I have done so out of love and loyalty to his great power. But I am too old to fulfill his wishes, and we've been searching for a new daughter for our father. Long has been our search and many have failed to satisfy our father. But, you and the precious Isabella will fulfill his prophecy. His family will grow, and shall smite the sinners from the earth.”
Molly gawked in a mixture of surprise and disgust at Estella's words. My God, has her own father been impregnating her all these years? These children are her siblings too? The way she keeps calling him our father, sounds like some kind of hillbilly cult. No one messes with my daughter. They'll have to kill me before I let them hurt her.
“Your father's still alive? He has to be rather old, isn't he?” she asked while still trying to loosen her bound wrists.
“Father is as old as time itself, child. He came down from the heavens to save us all,” Estella said while struggling to pull herself up to her feet, “Enough talk, we must not keep our father waiting any longer.”
Before Molly could utter another word, the men pulled her to her feet. One of them picked her up by her legs, and another by her shoulders. Molly squirmed desperately, but couldn't break free. She screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping desperately that somehow someone would hear her, and come to her aid.
The men carried her to the cemetery. She saw numerous old tombstones that had turned white with time. They dropped her unceremoniously to the ground beside a crumbled tombstone a few feet from the crypt. The three men gathered in a semi circle in front of the crypt. Estella joined them a moment later, and the group joined hands. They all faced toward the crypt, and began to sway back and forth. As they swayed, they began to chant in a guttural language Molly couldn't comprehend.
They must have left Isabella in the house. Are there more of those freaks in the house? What're they doing with her? Molly rubbed her bound wrists against the jagged edge of the broken tombstone behind her. She smiled with satisfaction when she felt the stone cut into it. Keeping her eyes on the chanters, she worked her wrists free. Cautiously, she grabbed a shard of stone, and worked at her ankles. None of the worshippers looked back at her. Their chanting and swaying continued with a hypnotic quality.
Cautiously getting to her feet, Molly started to make her way to the house, when the sound of Estella's booming voice startled her. Glancing back she saw the woman had her aims raised up to the air, and her body spasmed.
“Oh great father of the heavens! We, your loyal children and daughter have fulfilled your decree. The ones you have dreamed of are finally here. Let us all rejoice Father for now your seed shall spread once more, and all shall know the glory of your second coming!”
Molly shuddered at the crazed tone of Estella's voice. What the shit? These people are completely insane. That crypt is probably empty. I can get to the house, get Isabella, and then get outta here. No one fucks with my daughter.
A sudden deep grumbling filled the air, and the ground shook violently, knocking Molly off her feet. What the hell's that? An earthquake? When she pulled herself up, a blast of rancid heat washed over her followed by a burst of intense red light. The flames of the torches suddenly soared into the sky. The worshipers stepped back from the torches, allowing Molly to see into the crypt for the first time. She saw a small impact crater within the crypt. A rusty and pock marked cylinder the size of a 50-gallon drum rested in the middle of the crater. Sections of the container had broken away revealing circuit boards, and fiber optic cables, some of which still flickered weakly. Pools of an eerie green fluid laid about the cylinder. Molly saw a hatch near the top of the cylinder, and as she watched it opened with a soft hiss. Wormy ink black tentacles oozed out of the hatch. Three in total, each one tipped with a bulbous growth. The tentacles rose like a King Cobra, and each bulbous tips split open revealing a single yellow eye. The tentacles swayed while the group of worshipers shouted with glee.
“Oh great father!” Estella screeched, “Your children are here! Your new fertile daughters are here to be ravaged with your glory! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Go now my children and offer her to our father!”
The men turned, and spotted Molly. One of them rushed toward her. When he got within a few feet of her, she drove her palm into his nose. He yelped as the nose bone entered his brain, and dropped over dead.
“Blasphemer! What have you done?” the old woman said while backing away from Molly.
Two more of the men rush toward Molly. She quickly grabbed a chuck of the gravestone and threw it as hard as she could at one of them. The stone struck the man hard in the throat, crushing his windpipe. He fell to the ground, wheezing shallowly for air.
His partner approached cautiously while drawing a wicked blade with a serrated edge. The last man grinned sadistically and swiped at her. Despite trying to dodge it, the blade sliced her deeply across the stomach. Molly screamed in pain, and staggered away from the man. The blade made a high pitched whistle as it cut through the air, and sliced her forearm. Molly screamed and tried to ignore the pain. Desperately, she lashed out at the man with a crescent kick. It connected, and knocked the blade out of the man's hand. His eyes went wide with surprise, but Molly didn't give him any time to recover. She struck him with a combination of a back punch to the head, and a reverse bunch to his gut. He wobbled on his feet, and Molly finished him off with a round house kick.
With the last of her assailants down, she looked around for Estella. Through the gloom she could see the old woman entering the house. As she prepared to pursue, a tentacle shot out from the crypt and struck her in the back. The blow knocked her to the ground, and sent waves of electrical like energy through her. Molly screamed in pain, and looked up in time to see three tentacles hovering over her. They arched above her, and Molly managed to roll out of the way a moment before they lashed out like bullwhips.
“No one fucks with my family,” Molly yelled while grabbing a burning torch.
The tentacle came at her again, but she dodged it. Swinging wildly she managed to strike the tentacles, which quickly became engulfed in flames. A high pitched screech filled the air, and the creature pulled its limbs back into the crypt. With all her energy Molly threw the torch into the ruins. The flames eagerly grew, fueled by the dry grass. Frantically she tossed some more torches, and the fire began to spread across the cemetery.
I have no idea if that'll kill it, but it should keep it off my ass.
Wasting no more time, Molly ran to the house. When she burst through the front door, the sound of Isabella wailing could be heard from upstairs. Desperately she searched through the house for a stairway. She found one near the back, and leapt up the stairs. When she reached the top, Molly saw Estella standing in the middle of a gutted room with Isabella on an old bloodstained table.
“Stop! Give me back my daughter you fucking bitch!” Molly said while rushing toward them.
Estella flashed an ornate blade at her, and then placed it to Isabella's throat, “The unclean shall be cleansed from the earth, Blasphemer! First the child and then you.”
“You don't have to do this. I'm the one who's killed your children, and commited blasphemy against your father. Sacrifice me to your god, but please let Isabella live. You can raise her as your own, in your house of strong faith. She can become your father's daughter in time. She's innocent of any crimes I may have done.”
“Why would you do this?” the old woman said.
“Being a great mother yourself, you should know that no mother would allow harm to come to her children. That she'd do anything to prevent it.”
Estella nodded, and walked toward Molly, “You are right.”
Molly waited next to the stairs for her. When the old woman got within a few feet of her, Molly kicked the blade out of her hand. Howling with rage, Estella charged like a bull toward her. Quickly sidestepping, Molly kicked her in the back of the knees. The old woman screamed as her legs gave out, and her momentum caused her to go crashing down the stairs. With a sickening thud Estella tumbled down the steps, and landed on her head.
Quickly, Molly ran to her daughter, and scooped her up. The child screamed with fear and Molly did her best to comfort her while running down stairs. When she stepped outside, she saw that the entire graveyard had become engulfed with fire, and it had begun to spread to the nearby woods. With burning lungs and rubbery legs, Molly ran toward the pit of carcasses. Hope surged through her when she spotted the pick up truck. Luckily for her the door wasn't locked, and she quickly slid behind the steering wheel. The keys had been left in the ignition, and the engine turned over quickly. The sound of diesel engine sounded beautiful to her, and she began to cry with joy. Without a glance back she floored the gas and sped down the dirt road.
I don't like the idea of driving without a child's seat for Isabella, but I don't got no choice. Hopefully, I'll find a cop or some place to stop near by.
The private road connected to the I-70 and Molly headed West. A few miles later she found the exit for the town of Raven. Once off the highway she pulled over, and embraced her daughter. The comfort of the maternal bond, easing their pain.
“We're safe, Isabella. We're safe.”
The End
Kevin James Hurtack was born and raised in Western New York. He earned a Bachelors of Art degree in the Fine Arts from Buffalo State College in 1997. His artwork has appeared in numerous small press Horror genre publications, including Static Movement Online, RAZAR, Theatre of Decay, and Night To Dawn. He's also a published writer of short Horror fiction and Horror poetry. Today, Kevin makes his home in Colorado. He always takes the back country roads through the Colorado Rockies. More of his work can be seen at www.eternalnightmare.com